– A new travel survey from AAA Ohio Auto Club finds 59% of Ohioans are
considering a trip in 2021, although many remain uncomfortable traveling
next year, due to COVID-19 concerns. Those who do plan to travel will
generally continue to opt for more domestic road trips and activities
that facilitate social distancing rather than international trips or
cruises.
According to survey findings, Ohioans seem to be taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to travel in 2021.
•
56% say they remain somewhat or very uncomfortable with traveling next
year, citing the COVID-19 virus as the top reason they are planning to
stay home.
• Yet, 59% say they are considering taking a vacation
that includes an overnight stay away from home in 2021. About a quarter
(26%) say they aren’t sure yet, and 15% said they are not considering a
trip next year.
• Only 31% of those considering a vacation have actually booked their trip.
“These
results show that Ohioans want to travel, but are still uncertain about
what 2021 will bring,” said Jeremy Marshal, vice president of travel
sales for AAA Ohio Auto Club. “As long as coronavirus concerns remain,
we will likely continue to see more spur-of-the-moment travel decisions
to outdoor destinations such as parks and outdoor attractions in Ohio
and surrounding states.”
2021 Vacation Insights:
Of
the Ohioans that say they are considering a trip in 2021, 86% will
travel somewhere in the United States. The remaining 14% will either
visit the Caribbean or Mexico (7%) or another international destination
(7%).
“Travel vendors have responded to the anticipated continued
focus on domestic travel in 2021 by adding new domestic itineraries,”
said Marshall. “For example, we are seeing vendors expanding options for
smaller group tours or vacation home rentals in popular U.S. travel
destinations. Travel agents can help guide Ohioans to find the best
options for their family and budget.”
For those considering a
vacation in 2021, summer (30%) is the most popular time to travel,
followed closely by spring (28%) and fall (22%).
Vacation Planning:
Ohioans
surveyed cited a destination’s attention to COVID-19 safety guidelines
(43%) as their top consideration when planning their next vacation.
Other priorities include price or value added options (19%) and flexible
cancellation policies (17%).
As Ohioans look ahead to the future,
the following resources can help travelers find what they’re looking
for in their next vacation:
• Start with an expert: Virtual
appointments with travel experts enable travelers to learn more about
various destinations from the safety and comfort of their home. Travel
agents have access to the latest destination information and travel
deals, and can also act as your advocate if your plans change
unexpectedly. To schedule a free appointment, visit AAA.com/Travel and
click on the “Book Appointment” button.
• Plan your route: If
you’re planning a road trip, TripTik.AAA.com can help you plan your
route and show which rest stops, gas stations, restaurants, attractions
and hotels are open along the way.
• Research hotel cleanliness:
To help ensure hotel cleanliness, look for hotels that have earned the
AAA Inspector’s Best of Housekeeping award by talking with a travel
agent or filtering hotels on AAA.com/Travel. These are hotels that have
achieved the highest possible scores for cleanliness by AAA’s
professional inspectors. It’s also a good idea to call hotels ahead of
time and ask what precautions they are taking to protect guests.
•
Stay up-to-date: In this ever-changing travel environment, it remains
important to stay up-to-date on the latest travel guidelines and
restrictions. Before you leave, visit AAA.com/Travel and click on the
COVID-19 Restrictions Map for the latest state and local travel
restrictions.
AAA provides more than 61 million members with
travel-, insurance-, financial- and automotive-related services. Since
its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a
leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA
clubs can be visited online at AAA.com.
Note: AAA plans to release its annual Year-end Holiday Travel Forecast on Dec. 15.
